There’s no shortage of local athletes playing winter sports at the highest level, testing their mettle in Division I competition at the University of Maine.

Arguably the hometown Black Bear with the highest profile in that group, Troy Barnies of Auburn has recovered from a broken bone in his wrist to claim his projected spot in the men’s basketball starting lineup as a true freshman.

Barnies, who won Mr. Basketball honors while leading Edward Little High School to a 19-1 season and a KVAC championship last winter, missed Maine’s first seven games while nursing the injury he sustained in an exhibition contest.

That wasn’t enough time to accumulate much rust, apparently. Barnies emerged from the bench early and played often in his debut against New Jersey Tech on Dec. 1, scoring seven points and hauling down a team-high eight rebounds in an 86-58 victory.

One week later, Barnies made his initial start and provided a bright spot with eight points in a 95-55 rout at Florida State. That road trip was a reunion of KVAC greats: Ralph Mims of Brunswick starred for the Seminoles with nine points, six rebounds and six assists.

Maine fell to 4-6 with a close home loss to Mount St. Mary’s last Saturday, but Barnies was solid again with six points and five boards.

Barnies ranks fourth on the team with seven points per game. Maine’s top two scorers are a pair of Class D high school products – Brian Andre of Bingham (Valley) and Junior Bernal out of Hyde School in Bath.

One of the plum in-state recruits for the Maine women’s basketball team also has put up solid numbers in limited action.

Christina Mosher of Farmington (Mt. Blue) is shooting 50 percent from the field and 83 percent from the free-throw line while producing 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.

The 6-foot-2 center has made four appearances for the Black Bears. She impressively combined a career-high 10 points and seven caroms in an 80-50 loss at St. John’s last Friday.

Run and shoot

Maine’s deepest delegation of area athletes is represented on the indoor track and field team, which got a running start into its lengthy holiday break with a flurry of strong individual performances in a Dec. 8 meet against New Hampshire.

Tess Perry of Farmington (Mt. Blue) headlined the showcase with her victory in the long jump. The sophomore soared 17 feet, 4 inches to capture the event. Perry was also fourth in the triple jump, an event in which she finished fifth at the outdoor New England Championships last May.

Auburn senior Allyson Thomas (Edward Little) was Maine’s top finisher in the pole vault and second overall with a distance of 10-6.

Thomas’ longtime high school and college teammate, Lauren LaRoche, crossed the finish line fourth in the mile, clocking in at 5:30.71.

Junior Stephanie Jette of Lovell (formerly of Fryeburg Academy and a transfer from the University of Southern Maine) scored points in two events for the Black Bears. Jette ran second in the 800 meters (2:23.05) and completed a leg of the 4×880-yard relay.

Other local women on the Maine roster are Nerissa Gross of Lisbon, Kelsey Biliouris of Livermore and Jordan Daniel of Farmington (Mt. Blue).

Two Lewiston High School graduates have emerged as mainstays for the Maine men in their sophomore season.

Kurt Thibeault was Maine’s top finisher and second overall in the 500 meters at a clip of 1:08.93. He also logged the third leg for the victorious 4×880 relay squad.

Toby Poirier ranked second among the Black Bears with his shot put measurement of 38 feet, inch.

Dylan Cayer of Mexico (Mountain Valley) was Maine’s No. 2 finisher while pocketing fourth-place points with a sprint of 6.93 seconds in the 55 meters.

Also looking to make their mark with the men’s team this winter are Jeff Ramos of Turner (Leavitt), Ryan Poulin of Winthrop and former Mt. Blue basketball standout Noah Paytas.

Everybody into the pool

Dustin Carrier of Lewiston has launched his senior season with the Maine men’s swim team. Carrier was Maine’s top finisher in the 200-yard breaststroke in a Dec. 8 meet against Boston University, hitting the wire third overall. He also placed in the top five in the 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley.

At the University of Rhode Island Invitational, a competition featuring several southern New England squads, Carrier snagged sixth in the 100 breaststroke and seventh in the 200. His 400 medley relay team also placed sixth.

Sophomore diver Joel Dooling of Winthrop took fifth in both the 1- and 3-meter events at BU.